Grip for aerial-tramway cables.



PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

E. P. FREDERICK.

GRIP FOR AERIAL TRAMWAY GABLES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.27. 1905.

V5454. In

EDIT ARD P. FREDERICK, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

GRIP FOR AERIAL-'TRAMWAY CABLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24, 1966.

Application filed February 2'7, 1905. Serial No. 247,594.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD P. FREDERICK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Grips for Aerial-Tramway Cables, of which the following is a specification, containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in grips for aerial-tramway cables; and it con sists of the novel features herein shown, de scribed, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of my invention with the front plate removed. Fig. 2 is a central transverse section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is 2% horizontal section taken on the line 4 4 of *1g. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 indi cates the fixed jaw, which is preferably cast as shown, and formed on the lower edge of said fixed jaw is an upturned semicircular gripping-plate 2. Said jaw is provided on its top edge with an integral flange 3. Said integral flange 3 is provided with openings 4, formed on the stationary jaw 1, or lugs 5, provided with screw-threaded holes 6 6, and also lugs 7 7, provided with screw-threaded holes 8 8.

9 indicates the front detachable plate, which is adapted to be attached and removed from the stationary jaw 1 by means of screws 10 and 11, the screws 10 being adapted to be inserted in the screw-threaded lugs 7 and the screws 11 adapted to be inserted in the screw-threaded lugs 5, it being noted in this connection that the front plate 9 is provided with suitable openings for the passage of said screws.

12 indicates the movable jaw of the grip, provided on its lower portion with the concave gripping-face 13. Said movable jaw 12 is located against the inside face of the stationary jaw 1 and in vertical apposition to the gripping-plate 2. Fastened to the jaw 12 are bolts 14, which pass through the openings 4 inthe flange 3, and located on said bolts 14 are spiral springs 15, located on the bolts 4, between the top face of the flange 3 and washer 16. The top ends of said bolts 14 are provided with screw-threads adapted to receive nuts 17. The function of said spiral springs 15 is to elevate or release the movable jaw 12. The stationary jaw 1 is provided with a square elongated opening 18, and adjacent to said opening are guide-slots 19.

20 indicates a bearing-block which is located in said opening 18, the bearing-block 20 being provided with flanges 21, located 111 the guide-slots 19. This bearing-block is provided with a circular bearing-opening 22. Said bearing-block 20 is only susceptible of vertical movement. The inner face of the removable front plate 9 is provided with elongated rectangular depression 23. Located in said depression is a center bearing-block 24, provided with the circular opening 25. Said rectangular bearing-block 24 is only susceptible of vertical movement in the depression 23. The movable jaw 12 is operatedthat is to say, it is clamped onto the rope by means of a cam mechanism, which consists of a cam 26. Said cam is provided with bearings 27 and 28, the bearing 27 being located in the bearing-block 20, the bearing 28 being located in the bearing-block 24, the bearing 27 being provided with an annular end 29, by means of which the same may be turned or operated by means of a wrench or any suitable device. The cam mechanism is located above the movable jaw 12 and is adapted to act on the top surface of the same when the cam is rotated to assume avertical position. By means of a wrench applied to the end 29 the movable jaw 12 is depressed. When the cam is operated to assume a hori- Zontal position, the movable jaw 12 is free to be released by the agency of the springs 15. In order that the gripping-jaws may be adjusted to compensate for wear and variation of the cables, I provide an adjusting mechanism which I will now proceed to describe in detail.

Slidingly mounted on the rods 14 is a bar 30, provided with an inclined face 31 and a dovetail groove 32. Mounted above said bar 30 is another mating bar 33, provided with an inclined face 34, and a tongue 34, fitting in said groove. Said bar 33 is provided with screw-threaded ends carrying nuts 36, and by means of said nuts said bar 33 may be laterally adjusted. It can be seen when the bar 33 is adjusted toward the right in Fig. 1 that the bar 30 is depressed, and when moved toward the left or in the opposite direction the bar 30 may be elevated. The bar 33 is provided with elongated openings 37, which permit the lateral adjustment of the bar over the rods 14. Mounted on the bar 30 is a catch 38, which is held to the same by means of a rivet 39. Said catch 38 is susceptible of slight vertical movement. Located above said catch 38 is a spring 40, secured to said bar 30 by means of screws 41. The lower edge of said catch 39 is provided with a recess 42. Adapted to be located in this recess is a lug 43, carried by the cam 26. The function of the lug 43 and the catch is to hold the cam mechanism in a substantially locked posltion. I

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a grip for aerial tramways, a horizontal adjusting mechanism for adjusting the movable jaw, comprising two bars, having inclined faces dovetailed into each other and slidingly mounted relative to each other, the upper one of said bars being provided with screw-threaded ends and nuts located on said screw-threaded ends, by means of which the said bar may be moved horizontally; substantially as specified.

2. In a grip for aerial tramways, a horizontal adjusting mechanism for adjusting the movable jaw, comprising two bars, having inclined faces dovetailed into each other and slidingly mounted relative to each other, the upper end of said bars being provided with screw-threaded ends, nuts located on said screw-threaded ends, by means of which the said bar may be moved horizontally, and a resilient catch mounted on the lowermost one of said bars, adapted to engage with a lug carried by the clamping mechanism; substan tially as specified.

3. In a grip for aerial tramways provided with a movable jaw, a clamping mechanism and an adjusting mechanism, a resilient catch carried by the adjusting mechanism and a lug carried by the clamping mechanism, adapted to engage the said catch; substantially as specified.

4. In a grip for aerial tramways, having a clamping mechanism, a resilient retaining device for locking said clamping mechanism; substantially as specified.

5. In a grip for aerial tramways, having an adjustable movable jaw and a clamping mechanism susceptible of vertical movement, a retaining device for locking said plamping mechanism; substantially as speciied.

6. In a grip for aerial tramways, a horizontal adjustable mechanism for adjusting the movable jaw, comprising two bars, having inclined faces dovetailed into and slidingly mounted relative to each other, the upper most one of said bars being provided with a standard having a screw-threaded opening, a screw-threaded shaft mounted in said opening and fixed against horizontal movement, by means of which a horizontal movement may be imparted to said upper bar; guiderods for said bars; and a resilient springcatch carried by the lowermost one of said bars; substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD P. FREDERICK.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. EICKS, Y Enw. M. HARRINGTON. 

